USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough county, Illinois, its cities, towns and villages with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county > Part 30
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The consignment was safely delivered at its destination, not- withstanding the real and supposed narrow escapes of the trip. It turned out that the curiosity and interest of the man that Mr. W. called up for information as to the way was not of a dangerous kind, as he was a son of the man for whom Mr. W. sought, and
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suspecting the nature of his mission, very kindly interested him- self in pointing out the way to his father's house.
We close this chapter with the following incident, as a final closing act of the drama of the " Underground Railroad :"
On the morning of the thirty-first of December, 1862, two negro men were taken from the Eastern bound train of the C. B. & Q. R. R., at the depot in Macomb, by a citizen of this county, who claimed they were runaway slaves, and who felt it his duty or privilege to take them back and deliver them over to the gentle and fatherly care of their " master." Whether this man had ever heard of the emancipation proclamation of President Lincoln or not we cannot say, but presume not, or if he had he regarded it as " unconstitutional," and therefore invalid. By returning them to their owner or owners he thought he would receive enough money to keep him in whisky and tobacco for some time. Atthis time the Eastern and Western bound trains connected at this point, and it was the design of this zealous fugitive slave law man to hurry the negroes on board the Western bound train and take them baek. Luckily this train was a few minutes late. John Q. Lane was at that time the City Marshal, and happened to be at the depot, and the negroes made known to him their condition, stating they were traveling on a pass from their master, and that it had been taken from them by this advocate of the law. Mr Lane told them to get in the omnibus, and he would take care of them. By oaths and threats this was sought to be prevented, but the Marshal " didn't scare worth a cent." He took the negroes to the Randolph Hotel, where they were kept under guard that day and night. The party capturing them, inflamed by liquor, went to the hotel and demanded them of the landlord, the Hon. Wil- liam HI. Randolph, who then occupied that position. Mr. R., not liking the style of the gentleman, ordered him from the house, and accelerated his speed by a not very gentle kick. The man left, swearing vengeance. The negroes were held by friends until 12 o'clock at night, when they were informed that, agreeable to the proclamation of the President of the United States, they were free men, and could come and go as they pleased, being beholden to no man.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIV.
COAL-STONE-CLAY.
A careful study of chapter fourteen will give the reader a knowl- edge of the geological formation of MeDonough county, includ- ing coal, stone, and clay ; still we think a more detailed statement than there given of the items mentioned will be appreciated by all in whose hands this work may fall.
Coal .- The area of the coal fields of MeDonough is nearly, if not quite, co-extensive with its entire surface, having been found in every township, except Walnut Grove. There are thirty-nine shafts and banks in active operation, affording employment to hundreds of men, some of whom work in the banks, while others are constantly engaged in hauling to our home markets and the towns surrounding. An average of twelve cars per day have been shipped from the town of Colchester, over the Chicago, Burling- ton and Quincy Railroad, during the last five years. This is ex- clusive of that shipped for the sole use of the railroad company. which amounts to several cars more. An average of two cars is consumed in Macomb, while surrounding towns use as much more, making a total of twenty-four cars per day. There is no limit to the supply, as the beds are inexhaustible.
The coal of this county is regarded as the best in the State, and is used extensively in the manufacture of gas in several of our large western cities.
Stone .- The quarries of MeDonough county are becoming just- ly noted for their superior quality of freestone and sandstone. As remarked of coal, the supply is almost inexhaustible, and capable of meeting the demand for hundreds of years. West of Macomb a short distance are two or three quarries that have been worked for many years, and the rock from them used for building pur- poses have stood the test of time in a remarkable degree. Until the
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGII COUNTY.
past year the stone has been used principally for foundation pur- poses, wells, and sidewalks. A few months ago Mr. Rowley, of New York, who, for many years has been the proprietor of the quarry known as Stuart's, having tested the stone in every conceiva- ble way, erected a factory for the purpose of manufacturing grindstones. He has now in employ a large number of hands, and is turning out an article that is giving universal satisfaction. Shipments are being made daily to all parts of the United States, and we have no doubt in time this will be one of the insti- tions of the county. John McLean, Esq., of Macomb, at our re- quest, furnished us with the following statement of the quarry formerly worked by Hector McLean, Sr., and his three sons, Alex. John, and Duncan :
"We commenced work in the Randolph quarry in the fall of 1849, and in 1852 left, purchasing the interest of Swigart & Broaddus in the quarry known as Bartleson's, and considered the best freestone or sandstone in the State. The quarry was easy to work, having seams in every ledge, running the entire length. We frequently pried up stones 30x15 feet, flat and smooth, fitted for any kind of pavement, the ledges being from 12 inches, increasing in thickness to three feet, being the lowest ledge we worked.
"We had the quarry rented for four years at ten cents per perch. In 1857 we purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on which the quarry was situated, of a Mr. Airy, of Phila- delphia, a brother of the late Mrs. Bartleson, of Macomb, for which we paid $1,600 ; sold the same to C. N. Harding, Esq., in 1867, for $4,000. We worked in the quarry twelve years, in which time we averaged one thousand perches per year of all kinds of rock.
"In looking over the accounts of some years, I find that we made as high as $3,500 per year, paying for extra labor, tools and powder for blasting purposes, $1,300. In these times this was considered 'big money.' We usually did all the business our- selves, having four yoke of oxen, and a large wagon capable of carrying five tons or four perches. The wagon was made by our former townsman, Sidney S. Chapman, and a splendid wagon it was, painted on the axle 1852, the year in which it was made. We quarried, hauled and built, receiving therefor $2.50 to $3.25 per perch, according to wall."
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
Besides the quarries mentioned, there is an excellent quality of stone near Industry, on Grindstone creek, of the same general character as the foregoing.
Clay .- For the manufacture of drain tile, fire brick, &c., we have an excellent clay, and already we have one or two very ex- tensive manufactories for these articles. Horrocks, Stevens & Co., Bardolph, are doing an excellent business in this line, their trade extending east and west for hundreds of miles. It is said that the fire brick manufactured is superior to the New Jersey article, which is so widely known. We have no doubt in addition to these articles mentioned, clay for the manufacture of Iron-stone China can be had of a superior quality. Capitalists would do well to investigate the subject.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXV.
M'DONOUGH COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
On the sixteenth day of April, 1855, a few citizens of this county, interested in Agricultural and Mechanical Arts, met in Ma- comb for the purpose of effecting an organization, having for its objeet improvement in the same. W. J. Merritt was called to the Chair, and S. K. Pedrick appointed Secretary. Remarks were made by various persons, and the feasibility and importance of the proposed organization discussed. A Constitution and By-Laws were then adopted, and the following officers elected for one year : President, Thompson Chandler; Vice Presidents, Joseph Lownes, William Brooking and S. K. Pedrick; Corresponding Secretary, L. H. Waters ; Secretary, Joseph E. Wyne ; Treasurer, Joseph P. Updegraff. An Executive Committee was also appointed, and books opened for membership.
The committee and officers entered at once upon the discharge of their duties ; a fair was announced to be held on the second Thursday in October, continuing two days, and a list of awards were made out and a speaker engaged to deliver an address- Thomas Camp, a practical farmer of the county.
The old college grounds, now owned by Prof. Branch, was se- cured for the purpose of holding the fair. Says the Macomb En- terprise of October 25th.
" Our county fair exceeded our most sanguine expectations. The weather was delightful, and the attendance on both days was very large. What surprised us most was the number of articles on exhibition."
Then followed a description of some of the most important, among which was Cy. Lawson's 800 pound pig, Broaddus' plows, Harker's hay rake, Price's washing machine, Harris' churn, some ""'orful' pumpkins, potatoes, wheat, and the handiwork of some of MeDonough's fair daughters."
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
The officers, we believe, were all continned, and a fair an- nounced for Thursday and Friday, October 9th and 10th, 1856. This exhibition was an improvement upon the other, and we may here remark that all exhibitions since have contined to improve. The exhibition was held at the same place as the year before, but the ground was found entirely too small for the purpose. Thomas E. Brannan delivered a most excellent address, and all were well pleased with the success of the Society.
The next year the fair was held in the pasture of Thompson Chandler, in the northwest part of the town. Like those pre- viously held, the fair was a success in almost every respect, and it was determined that renewed efforts should be made to make the society efficient and permanent. The grounds were leased from Thompson Chandler, fenced and cleared for the purpose of hold- ing the annual exhibitions, in which the people all manifested considerable interest. The fourth annual fair was held on these grounds, which are now known as the old fair grounds, and was well attended.
We cannot well help drawing a contrast between the fairs then and now. At that time, although they were spoken of as being successful, yet the entries were few indeed, in comparison to what are now made each year. For years that old white bull of Thompson Chandler's was the principal attraction. Blooded stock was then scarce indeed. No such fine herds of cattle as are now owned and exhibited each year by Joseph Lownes, the Hustons and others; no such droves of hogs as Work, Dixon and others show; no imported horses like those of Westfall, Gloyd, Brooking, Rexroat and others own. Floral hall, at an early day, would blush if placed side by side with the magnificent structure now owned by the Society, and filled each year to over- flowing.
For the first four or five years two days was all-sufficient to exhibit the few articles placed on exhibition. After this the society required three, then four, then five days, and now the en- tire week is required to satisfy the thousands who annually attend the MeDonough county fair, the reputation of which is extending year by year, and even now it is no mean competitor to the State fair. Articles are now brought to its exhibitions from all parts of the State, while other States, and even the Dominion of Canada, have contributed to its exhibitions.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
The Society has been uniformly fortunate in its choice of offi- cers. Thompson Chandler, the father of it, exerted himself nobly to make its exhibitions successful, and great credit is due to him for carrying it through the first years of its existence. Messrs. Joseph Lownes, J. P. Updegraff, William Pointer, Amos Dixon, and E. C. Knapp have each labored to promote the best interests of the Society. Joseph Burton, as Secretary, was an indefatigable worker, spending a great amount of time and money to bring the Society up to its present high standard.
During the last two years, Dr. W. O. Blaisdell has been Presi- dent, and W. H. Hainline, Secretary. These two gentlemen have co-operated together well in behalf of the Society, and are fully determined not to retrograde, or even stand still, their motto being "onward and upward." There are no obstacles which they do not feel able to overcome, and which they will not overcome, if zeal, combined with pluck, will accomplish anything. The last two years there has been continued rain during the weeks of the fair; but notwithstanding, the people turned out very well, and the Society was enabled, from their receipts, to pay off entire their large premium lists, dollar for dollar, as well as all their outstand- ing contracts. We do not believe there is another County Fair in the State that can say as much.
In 1867 the Society purchased their present grounds just south of the city, on which they have made improvements, including price of land, of over $10,000. They now own the finest and most convenient grounds in the State, and year by year, as their means will warrant, will continue to improve them.
The past year (1876) was the first in which it can be said there was anything having the appearance of a failure, and this not in respect to the number of articles on exhibition. Every depart- ment was well represented, but the elements combined against it, the rain pouring down almost constantly, so that the attendance was not one-fourth that of ordinary years. For twenty-one years the Society had paid its premiums dollar for dollar, with no debts ever protested. This year, however, the Society could only pay fifty cents on the dollar, and only that by the stockholders being assessed a very heavy per cent.
The present Officers and Board of Directors are as follows : President, W. O. Blaisdell ; Vice-President, Aaron P. McKee : Secretary, W. H. Hainline; Treasurer, C. V. Chandler ; Directors, T. Chandler, J. C. Moore, A. V. Brooking and J. W. Melntosh.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
These men are all tried and true, and will work with a will to make the exhibitions of the Society first class.
In 1870, the McDonough County Stock Association was regu- larly incorporated, and held its first exhibition in July of that year. Exhibitions were also held in'1871 and 1872. In 1873 the Association failed to have an exhibition, and the following year it united its fortunes with the Agricultural Society, and the two combined are now known as the McDonough County Agricul- tural and Stock Association.
Every citizen of the county should take an interest in the ex- hibitions of this Society, and should use his utmost endeavors to make the annual meetings a success. Nothing tends more to in- cite men to action than the comparison of stock or the products of each, and we attribute in a great measure the advanced step taken by our people in the production of fine stock and the growth of the various products to the exhibitions previously held.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXVI.
BLACK LAWS.
The early settlers of this county, although mainly from the Southern or slave States, entertained a deep-seated prejudice against the negro, for which it is hard for us to account at the present day. This prejudice, we may remark, was not held alto- gether and only in this county, for by referring to the Revised Statutes of this State, approved March 3, 1845, we find the following in chapter 54, under the head of "Negroes and Mu- lattoes":
SECTION 8. Any person who shall hereinafter bring into this State any black or mulatto person, in order to free him or her from slavery, or shall directly or indirectly bring into this State, or aid or assist any person in bringing, any such black and mulatto person to settle and reside therein. shall be fined one hundred dollars on convic- tion on indictment, or before any justice of the peace in the county where such offense shall be committed.
SEC. 9. If any slave or servant shall be found at a distance of ten miles from the tenement of his or her master, or person with whom he or she lives, without a pass or some letter or token whereby it may appear that he or she is proceeding by authority from his or her master, employer or overseer, it shall and may be lawful for any person to apprehend and carry him or her before a justice of the peace, to be by his order pun- ished with stripes, not exceeding thirty-five. at his discretion.
SEC. 10. If any slave or servant shall presume to come and be upon the plantation or at the dwelling of any person whatsoever, without leave from his or her owner, not being sent upon lawful business. it shall be lawful for the owner of such plantation, or dwelling house to give or order such slave or servant ten lashes on his or her bare back.
SEC. 12. If any person or persons shall permit or suffer any slave or slaves, servant or servants of color. to the number of three or more, to assemble in his, her or their outhouse, yard or shed, for the purpose of dancing or revelling, either by night or by day, the person or persons so offending shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty dollars with cost to any person or persons who will sue for and recover the same by action of debt or indictment. in any court of record proper to try the same.
SEC. 13. It shall be the duty of all coroners, sheriffs, judges and justices of the peace, who shall see or know of, or be informed of any such assemblage of slaves or servants immediately to commit such slave or servants to the jail of the county, and on view or proof thereof order each and every such slave or servant to be whipped, not exceeding thirty-nine stripes on his or her bare back.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
At a meeting held in Macomb, as early as 1834, it was resolved by the people assembled that they would enforce section 8 of the statute given above. About this time a Mr. Riggs and a Mr. Thompson brought each a mulatto woman with them to this county ; Mr. Thompson settled in Macomb, while Mr. Riggs set- tled on a farm a short distance from town. But little time was lost in notifying the parties that the law would be enforced. Some resistance was at first offered, but the negroes were removed. By reference to the census reports we find the highest number reported in this county previous to 1860, at any one time, was seven. Therefore, we judge the law was strictly enforced.
Some years ago the Hon. W. H. Neece, of Macomb, was in the city of Monmouth, when he stepped into a barber shop for a shave. The barber was a colored man. While shaving him, he asked Mr. Neece where he was from, and the response was given, "Macomb." "Well," said he, "I went to Macomb once, about eighteen or twenty years ago, to start a barber shop. I only stayed about twenty-four hours, for a man called Jim Campbell came to me and told me I had better get out ob dar, as that was a white man's town. I left."
Notwithstanding his antipathy to the negro, Mr. C., has a warm spot about him, as witness the following which will be vouched for by the parties named : In 1856, he was a delegate to the Dem- ocratie National Convention which was to meet in Cincinnati, and which afterwards nominated James Buchanan, for President. In going to that city, Mr. C. took the train at Macomb for Quin- cy, where he was to meet other delegates in whose company he was to continue his journey. On board the same train, going to Quincy, was Joseph E. Wyne, Jack Price, Frank Whitson, and other Macomb boys, with whom Mr. Campbell engaged in con- versation, discussing, of course, the political questions of the day. As known, the Republican party was just coming into promi- nence, and Mr. C. denounced the members of it as abolitionists, negro stealers, etc. Becoming tired of this, he began to relate experiences in his early life. He said he was born in Kentucky, where his father at one period of his life, owned a number of slaves. Becoming involved, he was compelled to sell them for transportation down the river. Among the number was a negro lad named Bob, about his own age, with whom he had caten and played many a day. He stated he never felt as bad in his life as he did when he saw Bob sold and carried away. Mr. Wyne then
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
asked him the question : "Mr. Campbell, suppose Bob would come to your house some night, and tell you his master had mistreated him, and that he was compelled to run away, that he was without money, had nothing to eat during the day, and was nearly naked, what would you do?" Rising to his feet, he excitedly replied ; "By -- if such a thing as that should happen, I would take him in, give him something to eat, I would clothe him, and give him money, and tell him to break for Canada!"
As late as the year 1864, an indictment was found against Geo. W. Reed, the present corner of the county, under the "black law" for bringing a negro into the state. When the case was called in the Circuit Court, the Judge and Prosecuting Attorney threw it out-the law being virtually a dead letter.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXVII.
RESOURCES OF THE COUNTY.
We propose in this chapter to give a short summary of such matters as will show clearly the business and resources of Me- Donough county. To the thoughtful and intelligent reader these items will be invaluable, and we commend them to the capitalists of the country as showing truthfully the situation at present writ- ing, November, 1876. By a careful examination will be seen :-- 1. The extent of our territory. 2. The available proportion. 3. The variety of its productions. 4. Value as a stock county. 5. Extent of manufactures. 6. Openings for capital.
Extent of Territory .- McDonough county is square, having within its boundaries sixteen townships of thirty-six square miles each, or a total of five hundred and seventy. six square miles. In cach square mile there are six hundred and forty acres, which makes a grand total of three hundred and sixty-eight thousand six hundred and forty acres.
Improved Land .- By this statement is meant such lands as may be enclosed and value 'enhanced by cultivation; by erection of buildings or in the manufacture of articles of profit. It is cus- tomary in the assessment of real estate to call any trast improved that has any portion under cultivation or used to increase values. Taking out for woodland, marshes, creeks and slonghs, the num- ber of acres adapted to cultivation are three hundred thousand.
Unimproved Lands .- The proportion of unimproved land, as shown in the table given elsewhere, is small, being less than one- twelfth of the entire land in the county. The greater portion of this never will be brought under cultivation, although much of it is of great value, being underlaid with coal, and having on it several valuable quarries of stone. Several of our finest farms
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
were once thought to be as valueless as much of this unimproved land now seems to be, and it may be that a considerable part of it will yet be cultivated.
Real and Personal Property .- For the wealth of the county, the statement in the table given of personal property, town lots and lands, will give a fair idea. We learn from this that the aggre- gate value of the three classes of property named is $14,450,627, an average of $451.56 to every man, woman and child.
Wheat .- While wheat is decidedly preferred to all other grain, and next to corn is the most important raised in the county, yet for a few years past the yield has been light and the quality poor ; indeed, the average yield of the crop has scarcely compensated for the outlay of seed and labor. In the early settlement of the county abundant crops were raised, and of a superior quality, winter wheat being principally sown. Of late years spring wheat has taken its place, the cause being that the winter wheat has nearly always been killed by the severe cold of our winters. There were sown the past year 21,343 acres in wheat, the yield being very small-not sufficient for home consumption.
Corn .- Among the products of McDonough county, as well as generally in the United States, corn takes the precedence as being the most profitable and peculiarly adapted to our soil. There were in cultivation in this county, during the past year, 121,215 acres of this grain, being about two-fifths of all the land under cultiva- tion. The average yield is generally about fifty bushels, but in consequence of the late rainy season this year (1876), the average will fall far below that amount. In many places the crop was an entire failure, but on rolling lands, well drained, as high as eighty bushels to the acre were realized. The yield this year will amount to about 4,000,000 bushels, scarcely more than will supply home demand, the majority of the farmers having stock sufficient to feed more than they raised. Many farmers do not pretend to sell a bushel any season, because they find it more profitable to feed it to the stock than to sell in its bulky condition. The general mar- ket price of corn varies from thirty to forty cents per bushel, oc- casionally declining to twenty five cents, but often advancing to fifty cents.
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